After the mass shooting in my hometown of Thousand Oaks a week ago, social media plunged into rehash
After the mass shooting in my hometown of Thousand Oaks a week ago, social media plunged into rehashing the usual conversations. Now, the discussion felt heightened and surreal. I watched friends and strangers as they talked about toxic masculinity, mental health, and guns. Always guns. At the end of the day, I took a self-care break to decide what to post on Instagram. I never posted, partly because my hometown was also on fire by then. But also because I had scrolled past a photo of myself aiming two handguns at the camera as Domino, and I needed to think about that. It’s true that we can’t point to comics or video games and say “this is the reason for the violence.” And it’s true that social media campaigns can’t take the place of more direct forms of activism. But it’s also true that I have become increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of brandishing firearms, no matter how fake, as character accessories when I cosplay. So here’s one small thing I’m going to do. I pledge, from now on, never to include guns or firearms of any sort in my cosplays. I will keep my holsters empty for characters like Black Widow; I will also not post any more pictures or sell any more prints of me holding firearms for any costume. My small part in glorifying guns ends here. I won’t contribute to American gun culture by making them look glamorous, frivolous, or casual. Please join me in this “challenge,” if you feel called to do so. But please do more, too. Take any action, large or small, that YOU can think of to help break the cycle. It won’t break on its own. #noguncosplayer #cosplayerforguncontrol (at Thousand Oaks, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqMGfzFj73k/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ut13e1ql6v9e -- source link
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